Bifocal lens gauge and marker



y 1952 .0 R. K. LANMAN 2,603,000

BIFOCAL LENS GAUGE AND MARKER Filed March 24, 1945 v .4 bm

ATTORNEY.

iatenteol July 15, i952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BIFOCAL LENS GAUGE AND MARKER Robert Lanman, Dayton, Ohio 7 Application March 2%, 194.5, Serial No. 584,769

13 Claims.

This invention pertains to marking apparatus for ophthalmic lenses which have been preground and polished and the optical center (and axis of .a cylindrical correction) properly located thereon by a conventional axiometer. It relates more particularly to an apparatus for accurately locating and marking upon the lens a cutting line preparatory to edging or contouring the lens to its final shape, with the optical center of the distance vision field and bifocal segment decentered the required distances both vertically and horizontally, i. e., with the proper degree of drop and inset from the vertical and horizontal'diameters of the finished lens, in accordance with the correction prescription. Such cutting guide is now marked by hand operation with aid of a protractor or chart and a pen or stylus, which hand method is slow and lacks the requisite accuracy.

' A primary object of the invention is to provide a lens marking apparatus of simple construction and operation, which may not only be economically manufactured, but which will be efficient,

in use, uniform in operation, easily operated;

havingbut few operating parts, and be unlikely to get out of repair. 1 A further and important object of the invention is to increase the speed and also the accuracy ient and comfortable position for gaging and marking.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention intended to be pro- I ected by Letters Patent consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations "1 thereof, and the mode of operation, or their v ,fequivalents, as hereinafter described or illustrated. in the accompanying drawings.

. Inthe drawings, wherein is illustrated the preierred but obviously not necessarily the only form 1 of embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled lens 7 marking apparatus embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View thereof.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the lens locating and. gaging area.

Fig. 5 is a reverse view of the disclosure of Fig. 4 observed from the under side thereof.

Fig. 6 is a detail View of the marking disc.

Fig. 7 is a detail View, somewhat diagrammatic, of a lens blank, showing the measurements and marking performed thereon by use of the instant apparatus.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

, Referring to the diagrammatic view Fig. 7, there is therein shown a prepared lens blank A, relative to which is outlined the contour of a completed or edged lens 13 having therein a bifocal segment C. The lens B is to be cut from the previously ground and polished lens blank A, on which has been marked in a preliminary axiometer operation the optical center a of the distance Vision field and the horizontal diameter a-a of the lens blank A. The problem solved by the instant apparatus is that of locating the outline of the finished lens B in such relation to the original blank A that the optical center a of the distance field will be oifset or decentered a prescribed distance to the right or left of the vertical diameter bb of the finished lens B, and that the bifocal segment will be the prescribed distance or drop below the center d of the finished lens, and that the optical center of the bifocal segment shall be inset or displaced a prescribed distance to the right or left of the vertical diameter b b of the finished lens B.

. When the lens blank A is properly located in the present apparatus, and the extent of decenter, drop and inset have been properly determined' by measurement upon appropriate scales, a dot and dash cutting line, preferably an ink line, dd is drawn on the blank A for The present gaging and marking apparatus is contained in a cabinet or housing I, having an inclined top 2 and base or bottom 3. Adjacent to the forward and lower end of the inclined top 2 1 is a lens blank pallet 4, preferably, but not necessarily, removable from the cabinet. The lens pallet i has therein an opening 5, into the field of which a fixed tongue 6 extends from the top margin of the openin sufficiently below the-plane thereof to accommodate theconvexity of a lens 7 blank A placed on the pallet 4. The fixed tongue 6 extends approximately to the horizontal diameter of the opening 5. The terminal margin of the tongue 6 is graduated in opposite directions from its center to afford a scale I by which the degree of decentration of the optical center a of the distance field of the lens is measured. At the bottom of the opening 5 of the lens pallet is a secondfixed scale 8 also graduated in opposite directions from its center, by which the measured inset of the bifocal segment is determined.

Mounted in guide bearings 9 on the under side of the lens pallet 4 is a reciprocatoryslide l manually adjustable to and fro by a tongue ll projecting therefrom through a slot [2 in the pallet 4. The slide l0 carries a pairof relatively spaced locating fingers l3 underlying the opening of the pallet, relative to which the bifocal segment C of the lens blank A is centered when epositioned upon the pallet. Mounted upon the reeiprocatory slide l0 intermediate the locating fingers I3 is a graduated tongue l4movable to and fro with the slide [0, relative to ,which the lensblank is manually shifted vertically. While ,maintaining the bifocal segment centered rela- ..,:tive to the fingers I3 the lens is shifted vertically .todetermine by the scale 14' on the tongue [4 the prescribed drop of the segment below the centerd of the finished lens. By shifting the slide lllto and fro in unison with the lens blank, I; the inset of the bifocal segment is determined .iby, measurement upon the base scale 8, with which .agage markB' at the bottom ofthe tongue 14 ecooperates to indicate such dimension.

The differential between the decenter dis- ...tance of the optical center a of the distance .-.,vie.wing field and the inset of the bifocal seg- .-ment ofja spherical lens blank is accommodated -;;by a slight partial rotation of the blank upon -the pallet 4. Such differentialof a cylindrical jlens is provided in the initial grinding of the rlens blank in accordance with the prescription. 1:In.-either event, itis necessary to dimensionally .;l,ocate,such features upon-the blank A as herein ;;described. H When the lens blank A has thus been properly ,jpositioned upon the pallet 4, in accordance with l-the correction prescription, the cutting line is inscribed thereon as, here 'after described.

Extendingacross the cabinet I adjacent the highest portion thereof, is a manually reciprocatory shaft l5 projectinglaterally beyond the cabinet, and having a handleknob I 5 by which itrnaybe moved to and fro. Mountedupon the a shaft [5 is an arm l6 for to and fro horizontal motion in unison with the reciprocation of the ,shaft [5, but capable oflimited vertical 'oscilglatory motion. The arm l6 is yieldingly's'upported inits elevated position by a dependent .spring blade 11, the lower end of which has sliding 1 abutment against a bar [8 extending transversely a c ross the cabinet adjacent its bottom t. The arm [6 is preferably journaled on the-shaft l5 for such limited vertical oscillatory rnotion be- Y tween spaced collars I9 secured thereon, by which ;;the reciprocatory motion of the seams is trans- ,initted to the arm. At itsextr emitythearm 16 .carries an enlarged head 20. A revoluble shaft 2| eextends in parallelrelation withthearm l6 and ,is journaledin and extends beyond the head 20. The shaft 2| is journaledalso in a suitable bear- -..ing adjacent the engagement of the, arm upon -the supporting shaft 15.

The rotary shaft 2| carries a groovedpulley 22ladjacent to its connection with the reciprocatory shaft 15. VA tensionedcord or small cable 23 zextends'transversely of the .cabinetin parallel spaced relation with the reciprocatory shaft (5. One end of the cable is connected by an interposed retractile spring 24 with one side Wall of the cabinet, while the opposite end thereof is connected with an adjustable screw stud 25 in the opposite side wall of the cabinet. The intermediate portion of the tensioned cable 23 is disposed in one or more turns about the pulley Wheel 22, and transmits thereto and to the shaft 2| upon which the pulley wheel 22 is mounted, rotary motion as the shaft [5 and arm l6 carried thereby are shifted to and fro across the cabinet.

Secured for unison rotation to the end of the rotary shaft 2| beyond the head 20 of the arm I6 is a marking disc 26, the periphery of which is notched to afford a marking projection 21, producing a dot intermediate elongated lines or dashes produced by rolling themarking' disc-:26 against the under side of a lens blank properly positioned upon the lenspallet 4. The lowerisgment of the disc 26 is submerged in an ink supply within an ink reservoir 28 suspendeduponthe head 2Dof the arm [6. The ink reservoir 28 is providedwith small hook fingers 29 whichdetachably engage in spaced holes in the top-of the head zll of the arm [6. The periphery of the '[marking disc 26 is pressed under tensioni of @the spring blade I! against the under side "of the lens blank positioned upon the lens pallet 4,.and may yield slightly under tension against'the yielding resistance of the spring blade l'l tofaccommodate the convexity of the lens and maintain continuous marking contact th'erewitn The .lens pallet 4 is slotted at 3| ateach side of the opening 5 to receive the marking disc zli' as it approaches the opposite limits: of itsrang e of travel. The marking disc 26 is positioned upon the shaft 2| in such relation that the marking tongue 21 will impress upon the positioned lens the dot d of the cutting line in vertical aligm ment with the zero positions of the scales. land 8, coincident with the vertical axis ofv the finished lens B to be edged or contoured and relative to Which the optical center a. of the distance field vhas been decentered.

The screw stud 25 to which the end of the cable is attachedprovides means for rotati velyadjustfling the shaft 2I and marking disc 26 carried thereby to bring the projecting tongue to a zero position, whereby the center mark d maybe properly located to indicate the vertical diameter of the finished lens B to be cut from the blank.

7 By tightening or loosening the stud ;2 5, the cable 23 is caused to slightly rotate the shaftand rnarking discin one direction or the other to synchronize the indicating mark d with the Zero position of the scale I.

The lens blank having been accurately positioned upon the palletd with the optical center a decentered, the prescribed distance asmeaslured upon the scale l, and the drop of thebifo- .cal segment having been determined ameasured "distance relative to the vertical scalel4, and .the 1nset .of the bifocal segment having been located by adjustment of the slide [0, then while located on the pallet, a lamp 32 is provided within the rear end of the cabinet, in front of which a translucent ground glass diaphragm 33 is disposed transversely of the cabinet and difiused light from the lamp is directed thereby upon an inclined mirror reflector 34. The transmitted light is reflected by the mirror'through the lens blank being positioned upon the pallet to facilitate its proper location.

While the instant marking apparatus has been described as applicable to finished and polished lens blanks preparatory to cutting and edging operations, its use is not limited thereto. Without change it is also applicable to semi-finished lens blanks which have been ground and polished on one side only, to apply thereto guide lines or indicia to facilitate the subsequent grinding operations to be performed on the unfinished side thereof by locating the axis and optical center of the blank-in relation to the pro-positioned bifocal segment. Wherefore, reference in the claims to cutting and edging operations shall be deemed-to include surfacing operations preparatory to which the lens must be definitely positioned and marked.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise the preferred form of several modes of putting the invention into effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A lens gaging and marking apparatus, including a lens blank pallet having an opening therein, illuminating means transmitting light through the opening and through a lens blank positioned upon the pallet, a stationary graduated scale supported within the opening for measuring the decentration of a previously located optical center of a distance viewing field of a. lens blank relative to the position of the vertical axis of, the completed lens to be cut therefrom, a reciprocatory slide carried by the pallet, locating means on the slide for determining the relative position of a bifocal segment of the lens blank relative to the slide, a graduated scale on the pallot with which the reciprocatory slide cooperates to indicate the inset of the bifocal segment relative to the vertical axis of the finished lens to be cut from the blank, and a graduated scale carried by the reciprocatory'slide measuring the drop of the bifocal segment below the level of the optical drop and inset of the bifocal segment thereof and a rotary marking disc supported for motion in a fixed path transversely of said locating means and engageable with the underside of the lens blank for indicating thereon a guide line and center mark in corresponding relation to a finished lens to be cut from the lens blank, and means for actuating the marking disc.

3. A lens gaging and marking apparatus, in-

cluding a lens pallet for receiving a lens blank,

decentering and drop gages associated with the lens pallet for positioning the lens blank in aclenspallet. V

center of the distance viewing field, and marking means impressing upon the positioned lens blank a cutting line perpendicular to the vertical axis of the finished lens to be cut from the blank.

2.. A bifocal lens gaging and marking apparatus including lens blank locating means for positioning the lensv blank in accordance with prescribed decentration of the optical center of 4. A bifocallens gaging and marking apparatus, including a lens pallet upon which alens blank may be adjustably positioned, a plurality of graduated scales associated with the lens pallet-in relation to which the lens blank is located in accordance with the prescribed de-'- centration of a previously marked optical center of the distance viewing field of the lens-blank and the drop and inset of the bifocal segment of the lens blank, and a dot and dash line marker supported for motion in a fixed path transversely of the lens pallet for progressive movement across the under side of the positioned lens blank impressing thereon ahorizontalguide line transversely of the lens blank in predetermined relation with a finished lens shape to be cut from the blank and impressing a medial mark thereon coincident with the intersection of said guide line and the vertical axis of. the lens to be cut, to facilitate positioning of the lens blank in an edging or cutting machine for outline cutting of said lens shape. 1

5. A bifocal lens gaging and marking apparatus, including a graduated support upon which a lens blank is relatively adjustable into a prescribed position of dimensional characteristics as determined by said graduations, a marking device engageable wvith'the under side of the positioned lens blank and movable rela tive thereto in a fixed path with respect to said support to impress on said lens blank a transverse guide line and indicate upon the blank the position of a vertical axis of a finished lens to be cut from the blank, a resilient mounting for the marking device by which it is yieldingly pressed against the under side of the positioned lens, and actuating means by which the marking device is caused'to traverse the lens blank.

'6. A bifocal lens blank gaging and marking apparatus wherein a lens blank having preindicated thereon the optical center of the distance viewing field thereof is positioned upon a lens support in an adjusted position corresponding to prescribed dimensional characteristics thereof, including a rotary marking device, a depressible spring influenced support therefor by which the marking device is pressed against'the under side of the positioned lens, a revoluble shaft upon which the rotary marking device is the distance viewing field of the blank and the unte reciprocatory carrier therefor by which :the marking :device is actuated :to and 1:0 :transversely: of zthe positioned lens, ;and; motionitransmitting means actuated by .;th. ec procatory -motiomof thegcarricr 110 simultaneously rotate .the zrota y ;shaftand the markin d.evi.ce carried thereby, :while the latter isjn contact with the. lens. 1

7. .A ;bifQca1 lens ga ing :an markin .zapn ratus.-.-wherein alens blank;havin zn cindi at d ther on .the .optical;cc ter 10f athadistant view n flel c the lens ;is located ;in measured lrelation with;a lens supportga travelin rmrolua lccmark ing :d vic "movable in ;a,;;fi.xe math eacro h .su pcrtzand :h vin zpro ressiire enga ement tran v rsely with th lens t mark athere 'za uidelin and'thcm si ion'of the-vertical m ia of-a-nnish dz ns;t be ntz herefrom, a yieldin s pp rt zuncn-vwhich -;th ravel n ma ker i rried zt sandrfr transversely -.of the $19 a :r cinro atcry :carrier therefor and mot on transmittin :m ans :for: rotat n -t a k by therreciprocatory:motion; of the carrier.

8. ,A bifocal lens gage and marker, including -a ;c.abinct,;h vin a ropen n in t e t p h.e ;e f, graduated ,;s cal es associated with the :cabinet opening in relation to which a lens blankzhaving preindicated thereon the'optical :center of the :viewingjfield thereof-may he positioned-inagreement with prescribed dimensional -;char aeteris- :tics of :th ;.vl. ,n a tr ve i :m r r neaee ble :wdhthe face. of v alen to mp ess a euidermark th recnand in icat thapcs ti n fa e idi no the lensrperpendicular t z ae m k r :in fw whi hrt len bl nk :may b subsequ ntly pos tioned: imamedein nnd c t chine a t :cut therefromza fini h d len ia n ver e-ma ally reciprocatory;shaft mounted in said cabi ;net,';an-.osci;llatoryarm carried by the shaft, ,a rotary shaft upon which ;the traveling marker is mounted marri d by th os illatory ,arm .and movable therewith, :a pulley on "the revoluble shaft, azzcable exte din a ros the ca n t and inc uding a :turnthe eQf 1 ut th pulle la- -tive:to1which th zr cipro tc y s t. c la ory :arm and ..-rotary shaf a sembly. i 1 movable :andfro,bywhichvmovement relative to the cable :the s pulley n :th r ary shaf e v 1 ro ry motion, and spring means urging the traveling mark ntmm rk neeneaeem w thit lens 19. {A abiiccal. lens :marldnc a p ra u ssim- -p0rt:f.0r;-a lensihlankz p wh h elcn may .be positioned in -;nr sc t ed .snieasu -.r 1at on :arotary zmarls nerd s :a; su po t ther f r smorable inza-,fiaed,;nathacrosssaidlens bla s p- .rport ior z-t 1 and aim .mct on t ansver ely :c -.the -fie1d;.0f1 th de a tnatms; ea-n her fcman motion ctran mittine .aneans :io r tat n --the lmarking discwhile;in contact with the lens-in -.uniscn.zwith;the:toan firomot on; f support 'toimmes mpon .t ;l. tran v r aguide line iinaccordance with .whichrthe lenshla amarbe .sub eqnentlyL-rocsit n dma ede ngior cuttin machine zto -;cut the eiz cma m na y, shaped il nsxhavingz nr scr b ed dime s n l cha a t istics.

-19),- In a bifocal lien :rnarlii e a pa atu a :mt iy mark nazdisaeneaecab e w a; ce .ofa l ns b an ia esili nt mounted s pp rtin 5 arm therefor wieldinelr ur in pth mark n is aea nstth i ce fiailen t ne-mar d, a r cip zrocat ry merrie :fo th 7 3511 1 3! t d arm, and :moticn ransm ttine m a s for ,.rtatingzthe;markine :dis i u o :with: ts travel iacrosszthe facenfith ens'blan t mpre ther pn a amide maintenanc -t whic he marked '8 lensi-b ank-mav :be subsequently ,p ticnedrlnfi lens edgin :or cutting "machine ,for' cutting therefrom a ,-marginally, shaped lens of prescribed dimensionaLcharacteristics.

,1l.-, In -.,a bi fo cal lens marking apparatus, a lensz blank :support upon which a lens blank is variously :adjustable into prescribed measured relation, a rotary markingmember yieldingly pressed against a face of,the lens blank, actuating,means for progressively moving the rotary marking member vacross thelens face and motion ;;transmitting means for rotating the markingrmember in;u,nison with its movement across the;lens .face, the construction and arrangement being-such ithat the, rotating-marking disc will produce on thewlens face a guide indication in predetermined relation-with the outline ofa lens to-besubsequently cut from the lens blank.

12. In aubifocal lensgaging and marking apparatusra cabinet havingan opening in the top ,thereofrelative to which a lens blank may be positioned in predetermined dimensional relation, .av traveling marking device engageable with the underside of the positioned lens and movable thereacross to position thereon a guide line in accordance withwhich the lens blank may be subsequentlypositioned in a lens edging or cutting. machine .tocut therefrom a lens shape or prescribeddimensional characteristics, actuating means forthetraveling marker, a reflecting. surface beneath the lens positionppeni'ng inthe cabinet.top, .aldistant illuminating device, and a difiusing diaphragmbetween the illuminating device and the reflecting surface, by which diffused light is reflected through a lens to be marked when-positioned over said opening.

:13. A bifocal lensgaging and marking apparatus, including lens blank positioning means wherein the lens blank maybe positioned in accordaneeiwith prescription requisites of decentration,;drop-;and inset, a traveling frame movable-inalinear path, amarking device carried by said' frame for movement transversely of said positioning means, and progressively engageable with the under side of the positioned lens blank toirnpress thereon aguide line-relative to which the lensblank maybe positioned in an edging or;cutti ng.ma chine in such relation as to produce a finishedllens having the prescribed dimensional characteristics.

ROBERT K. LANMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of a record, in the file ofthis patent:

- UNITED STATESPATENTS Germa-ny :Feb.-;20, 11923 

